Darnell Jackson grew up following the fortunes of Oklahoma University’s football team.

Still, the Kansas University freshman basketball forward, an Oklahoma City native, has no mixed loyalties when it comes to today’s KU-OU gridiron battle in Norman, Okla.

“I want Kansas to win,” said Jackson, KU’s 6-foot-8, 240-pound inside presence, who admitted the Sooners and freshman running back Adrian Peterson were a load to stop.

“What he (Peterson) has is God-given talent,” said Jackson, who at one point had college football recruiters drooling about his own talent at tight end/defensive end at Northwest Classen High.

“I love contact,” Jackson said. “When I got to Northwest Classen, I played freshman football. I played five games my junior year and set some records. One game I was catching the ball and got hit low, in my legs.

“I told the coach that was it. The guy who hit me was one of J.R.’s friends from John Marshall,” Jackson added, laughing, referring to soph J.R. Giddens’ alma mater, Marshall High.

“I had made an agreement with the coach and the principal that if I wanted to stop playing I could and go back to basketball. I love football. I miss football. But my heart is basketball.”

Jackson

Following a strong showing during four exhibition games during Labor Day weekend in Canada, Jackson had arthroscopic ankle surgery. After rehabilitating the ankle, he came down with walking pneumonia and just now is returning to top shape.

“It was pretty scary at times, when you go to sleep at night and know you can’t breathe,” Jackson said. “They treated me and gave me medicine and that helped right away. Now I’m just working hard. Whatever I’m worth (in playing time), I’ll get.”

KU coach Bill Self likes the effort of the bruising forward.

“He has a lot of potential,” Self said. “I anticipate him being a banger. I love his body. He’s probably our best passing big guy. I can see him doing a lot of things.”